This is not my... Story
08/02/06 - It's Wednesday again!
07/02/06 - Less Energy; More Energy
06/02/06 - There's no place like home
03/02/06 - From the Hub to the Pub...
02/02/06 - Can it start the revolution?
Background to This is not my...
08/02/06 - It's Wednesday again!
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It's Wednesday again!
So more stuff updated on the site.
Plus the exciting result of the fizzy vitamin C tablet trial... |
It worked!
Yes, awakening and then immediately consuming a dissove in water vitamin C tablet does make you leap out of bed in an instant! But - small health warning - testing has shown that it may not be the best way of waking up.
To be honest it is a little startling and sort of tickles the back of the throat in a near choking type manner. Not such a good look either if you wake up next to the man / woman / inanimate object of your dreams - foaming at the mouth just isn't that alluring.
Still worth a go.
Anyhow, I needed the abrupt wake up as - after mentioning that it was sickie pulling week - I think my body got subconciously excited by the thought and was refusing to get up.
However, after busting myself for not actually being ill, I got on with putting some new stuff on here.
So - today ladies and gentlemen we have:
A Focus on recycling. You should recycle oh yes you should! Or avoid the need by just not buying anything.
A new News Comparison about Columbia which "an AlertNet poll of humanitarian experts conducted in March 2005.. ranked as the world’s sixth-worst “forgotten” emergency".*
La - ahem - mystic La has updated the horoscopes and will be predicting your luck in love on Valentine's Day (well the day after) and there are some new film reviews.
However, due to the fact that EVERYONE LEFT ME AND WENT ON HOLIDAY (absolutely not jealous and bitter now the photos have come back and they all have tans) the new articles will have to wait till next week.
One thing to mention about the Better Sex one though is that my friend/Toxicologist/Evil Overlord vying for world domination has pointed out that although technically correct the facts in the PVC bit are extreme.
He has recommended that we tell people to also look at the Sense About Science site for a more rounded view. Which is indeed sensible. (That or it is the site he made his girlfriend read when she didn't want to wear the outfit he bought her...)
Anyhow - I am writing this in a Cafe Arlington that I stumbled across. It is great. You have to go!
So comfy with candles and all delicious organic food and fair trade coffee. Much much much better than Starbucks and no more expensive.
They don't have a website yet but there are four of them at, 92 Dean St, 234 Blackfriars Road, 73 Southwark Bridge Road and in the Alima Centre in Liverpool.
What is pretty useful too for those of you in offices near to the Dean Street branch - they deliver!
How good is that. Just give them a call on 020 7287 0048.
Oooh and not only that but the coffee is described as 'excellent' in Time Out, they have really fun bins that separate the recycling and the profits go to providing opportunities for homeless people through the Novas Group.
Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant.
Anyhow - now I have been re-ernergised by finding such a nice place I am off for a meeting with Colin and Steve at Capital City Cars (run on LPG).
Ol is coming too and I think there was mention of holding the meeting at a bar suitable named 'Ollies'. Worrying.
Hmmm maybe I will need to give that vitamin C thing one more try tmrw morning!
See you then x
* Reuters
07/02/06 -Less Energy; More Energy
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Battling the winter Blues?
I hate hate hate February.
If I could migrate I would but I can't, so I have a plan... |
Since Mr Motivator left our TV screens mornings have been a bit of a trial. But no longer.
Although it is miserable, gray and statistically the week in which the good people of the UK pull the most sickies, surely this does not mean we can't start the day with a spring in our step and joy in our hearts.
So - through a series of trials I have decided to figure out how.
First things first.
Waking up quickly can immediately relieve the effect of a sleepy, groggy head.
However, sometimes waking up quickly proves tricky. The urge to fall asleep again can be a strong one. But do we have to give in to the dark side?
Perhaps not. I am going to see if I can wake with a start and what is more receive an immediate vitamin boost by...
Eating a 'dissolve in water' vitamin C tablet!
I shall trial this tmrw and see how it goes.
Anyhow - thought that maybe I could subtly lure you in with talk of energy boosting and then see if I can persuade you into energy saving...
Step one of the Ten Week Energy Saving Challenge was changing energy suppliers to a renewable one and step two is to:
Turn your TV/ radio off standby
I used to find this really hard but I promise that if you just keep trying to remember you will soon get into the habit.
It saves loads and loads of electricity. The BBC web site notes that:
"Britons waste the equivalent of around two power stations' worth of electricity each year by leaving TV sets and other gadgets on standby."
Plus, not only will this be a huge cost saving to you and the environment but, due to the energy you will use springing towards the TV, you will lose every one of those Christmas pounds you might not have so far shed.*
You will look and feel great. And have far less need to consume fizzy vitamin C tablets to wake you up as you you will most likely be awoken on future mornings by the person of your dreams who you have managed to impress with your fit toned physique and energy saving proficiency.
Be the envy of all your friends.
Anyhow - busy old day here.
I managed to resist the urge to try to find out other phrases in smurf language - realising that this might bring my credibility to a new all time low - and instead have been studying narcotics and fun games for the Valentines Day party.
(Ha ha just re-read that - the two were entirely independent and the former reading about the impact of the drugs trade. I promise not to drug anyone who comes to the party!)
Also got my details through from Good Energy and unless I decide to cancel in the next 7 days they will just connect me up. I can pay by standing order and save a few pounds or just in a normal bill paying way - so all pretty easy really.
By the way, if you have missed Week 1 of the plan for energy efficiency don't feel that this means that you can't now change your supplier. You can be even more impressive by managing two steps in one week...
Right. Sure that is enough of me going on about energy - for now at least.
Come back tmrw though and I will let you know if the vitamin tablet thing works. (Or if it results in shock, choking, an out of body experience etc)
Well - that is if you aren't pulling a sickie like everyone else...
* this may not be 100% factually accurate
06/02/06 -There's no place like home
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Ollie and Lara are back.
So exciting - I have been plotting and planing loads of great stuff to for us to do.
They will be so pleased... |
Of course, they might not be so excited by the thought of a cold February morning back at work but that just means that we will have to try even harder to do more fun stuff here.
Though this site is all about promoting ethical products, services and ideas it is also about having a brilliant time doing so. It's cold, I have a cold*, and SAD is setting in.
Time for evasive action.
But what can we do to beat the winter blues you might ask? Will it be more ginger tea drinking and making sure we have a proper breakfast?
No - not this year.
This year - let's try dressing as lunatics and learning the art of Palestinian dancing!
Way back in the dark mists of time (about mid-October) we were thinking of ways to promote This is not my. Since our bank balance is about as healthy as Keith Richards on a good week the wide scale TV and radio campaign has been put on hold.
Instead our promotional campaign consists of our mate Soph making us costumes in which to run about the streets of London.
Feel free to let us know if there is anywhere you think it would be good for us to visit so that we can maximise the potential embarrassment.
We have been looking into the initial smurf suggestion (the lady smurf does thankfully have blonde hair so no need to dye it - thank you for offering to help with that though Soph!) and I have found that there is actually an entire smurf language.
To be honest - speaking smurf might be a step too far but I was just amazed that there is one so thought I'd mention it. I can tell you that this morning, “I smurfed a smurf in the nose".
So on to Palestinian dance then...
It is brilliant. I stopped into the Earl's Court travel show to see my friend Penny and went to see what the commotion was at the World Music Stage.
Basically, it was three men and three women jumping up and down a lot, all looking extremely happy and then one bloke who jumped up and down even more than the others and (this is the best bit) didn't really have to be coordinated with what they were doing at all.
I could do that!
I could - well as soon as I manage to get back to some vague level of fitness as to be fair it did look a tad energetic.
But it was great though - honestly - it looked so fun. Forget salsa classes this could be the next thing for2006...
The travel show was good but it had been my sister in laws 30th birthday the night before so I have to confess that I wasn't feeling on top of the world.
There were though quite a few companies listed in our travel section working at the event and I also got to meet the people who run Tourism Concern which I hadn't heard of before.
They have been working for the last 5 years for fairer trade in tourism. Which sounds like a pretty good idea to me.
Anyhow - better get this up and start organising lots of crazy antics - being a bit slow today.
See you tmrw though and have a fabulous start to the week.
03/02/06 -From the Hub to the Pub...
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But not just any pub the ONLY pub in the world that the Soil Association has certified as organic.
The Duke of Cambridge |
I had been to the Duke before (it's just around the corner from Angel tube) and spent a very happy evening there. This time, though I was back to find out a bit more and to to lend a hand.
I had loved working at my old uni bar so explained to the Manager, Magnus, that I was more than happy to help out.
When I worked in a bar before though we just had to add all of the prices in our heads (a distressing sign of age). Working the till in the Duke did not always go to plan!
Between pouring pints of Freedom beer and an amazing array of ales, juices and wines, it kept talking to me, saying things like, "Try Again" (a lot) and "Who are you?" (most profound from a till...)
Yet, despite the questioning of my very being it was a great experience, made so by the wonderful staff, huge wooden tables, warm atmosphere and the attitude of it's customers. (A far cry from the union where sweat dripped from the ceiling!)
It is not cheap but certainly not expensive for a place with such exacting standards.
To get a Soil Association accreditation there can be no cutting corners and there is no way that these guys would countenance doing so.
The fact that a Chef loves food and is excited about creating new and inspiring dishes can not be rare but Matt was almost bouncing around the kitchen expounding on the pleasures of cooking organic.
Clearly proud of his work and passionate about organic food he recounted a story of how, when one of the Duke's suppliers was visiting at Christmas, he became quite teary to be somewhere where his produce was truely appreciated.
To be fair he may not have been 100% sober at the time - but nevertheless it was another example of the love and dedication which goes into making organic produce. It can be no bad thing to know that your food has recieved this kind of attention right up to the point that it gets to your plate.
It is pretty lucky too that Matt and the rest of the Chef's are so passionate about their work - as the menu is changed on a twice daily basis!
In addition, due to the occassionally irratic supply of locally produced, 100% organic produce the Chef's may not always get what they have ordered!
However, though they are constantly challenged with creating new and fabulous dishes, it is a challenge that they tackle with skill as well as relish.
For us customers it means that we can enjoy food that we would not find in any other kitchens in London, safe in the knowledge that it freshest and most exciting available.
Which has to be good!
It was a long shift for me though... despite the fact that I finished 2 hours before everyone else! (Some friends of mine had come in so I snuck off to join them for a cheeky glass of red wine - delicious red wine I should add.)
It is harder work than I remembered - and not just my utter inability to master the new till technology - so my thanks to the many bar tenders of London and to those at the Duke particularily for looking after me so well.
I will certainly be back - just maybe on the other side!
Anyhow - back to a bit of organising for me - my land lady is coming round so I might need to do a bit of tidying...
Have great weekends though and feel free to come back to see me on Monday.
Hmmm - maybe I will have figured out 'who I am' by then...
Ooooh p.s. don't forget too about changing yor Energy supplier. Go on - you know you want to...
Ten Step Plan to Energy Efficiency
02/02/06 -Can it start the revolution?
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Is this the future? Will it start the revolution?
The one where we get to work from bed?
Let me tell you about the Hub.... |
Despite the common misconception that London is a cold and distant place there are parts that are warm and friendly - the Hub is certainly one of them.
There is no standing on ceremony that is for sure. On the way in you are invited to lug a huge bag of wood chip up with you (it's 4 flights... which certainly covers my exercise for the week!) and when you get there you find that someone is designated as the Host for the day.
There is no definition of what a Host does but as far as I could see it is a role where, aside from doing your own work for the day, you have an additional responsibility to simply check that everyone else is happy. How nice is that?
Once able to relieve myself of the arm achingly heavy wood chip I was indeed happy but if I hadn't been I am certain that the lovely Maria - the Host for the day - would have made sure that I was looked after and given lots tea.
As it happens though I was being shown around by an old friend of mine from uni. She sat me down and explained a little about the Hub, its make up and how it is run. It seems to have been an idea that has grown in all sorts of ways and so might be difficult to explain.
But that is no excuse for not trying! Please accept my apologies in advance if I don't get it spot on though. Here goes...
The Hub is a space. The space can be used by individuals or businesses on a user pays basis. There are charges to use the space. Because you share the space these are affordable. Because you share the space you become part of it and how it works.
The people who share it are a mixture of social entrepreneurs, writers, researchers, creators, innovators and people who buy lots of bags of wood chip! In essence a socially responsible collection of inspiring individuals all working on their individual endeavors - but together.
The space is light, airy and at the top of an old warehouse type building (though the ceilings aren't as high as the one in Footloose and there was sadly no one prostrating themselves in a sweaty vest). It is warmed from big stovey burner things, which might explain the wood chip, and has 20 - 30 people working in it at any given time.
It has desks made from recycled cardboard, big panels to separate the meeting room if required, chalk boards in the toilets for inspirational moments and - of course - a big bed!
Amazingly everyone seems to be able to resist the temptation for sneaky snoozing because, despite the warm and relaxed atmosphere, there is clearly a lot of work being done here. A lot of work that is enjoyed.
Which leads me on to some of the people who work here. In just a few minutes I met...
The lady who runs the 'Fashioning an Ethical Industry' initiative, a writer who used to work on ERGO - global action plan's magazine for ethical living, James from Chrysalis, who invited me to join his social experiment* and almost a man who Julia described as 'so overwhelmingly brilliant that I can never remember what he does'!
The kitchen was pretty much an education in itself with energy monitoring and saving equipment all through it. Which is my pet love (should I worry about that?). So I will have to go back and search out the people behind that and get some more details.
The Hub describes itself as an 'incubator for progressive ideas' and there is no way that I could sum it up any better. It is a fun place. A welcoming place and just maybe the kind of place that can start a revolution.
A revolution that is perhaps a little more tea based than gun based but - hey - everyone loves a nice cup of tea!
*It involves a teepee - I couldn't say no...
This section will be a daily, well - Monday to Friday daily, editorial. (Have to keep some time aside to keep up the ritual wine drinking / dancing as if being chased by bees.)
I promise to make it my mission to investigate something each day on exciting forays to find new stuff, fun stuff, ethical stuff and anything involving break dancing men with extremely toned physiques.
Let me know if you think of something I should go and visit or if you have any great ideas or information. (Any dodgy suggestions will be politely declined... or not so politely, depending entirely on what they are!)
For today, though, please just have a look below to find out how this whole thing came about. I hope that you are having a lovely morning.
See you tomorrow,
Susie x
Background to This is not my...
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What is this site all about?
Well, as all good ventures do, it started in the pub with the ominous words "I know, why don't we...?" |
What was different, though, was that it still seemed like a good plan in the morning (and somewhat less injurious than trying out extreme ironing, the other suggestion...)
Anyway - once again we had been supping beers and putting the world to rights when someone mentioned the unmentionable, despite our disaffection with the state of the world, none of us was actually doing anything positive to change it.
Whether this was complacency or apathy, who knows - but we were definitely leaving it to others to make decisions and take action for us on issues about which we felt strongly.
We live in a free society, but often things seem to happen as a fait accompli. The war in Iraq, ID cards, the fact that we will eventually succumb to watching some of Big Brother no matter how hard we try...
And we just go along with it. But that is ok, right? I mean, we aren't exactly encouraging the abuse of others - are we?
Ok - so maybe my new top might have been made under less-than-perfect conditions and I suppose that means I am supporting those conditions, but - I have to buy something to wear, so what other choice do I have?
And that was the problem. What - and where - are the choices?
So we decided to investigate. Surely in this free society we have other options; we just need to know how to find them.
So we went online. There are some great directories already for ethical and/or environmentally friendly products, but for us these didn't go far enough. We were on a bit of a roll and decided that these products deserved more active promotion.
We wanted to make as many people as possible aware of the practical things they can do to live life in a better way.
So on this site we will provide information about easy, positive and ethical consumer choices. These are choices that won’t necessarily cost you more, either.
In our directories you will find environmentally friendly and ethical companies and products across the following categories:
Clothes
Energy
Food and Drink
Health and Beauty
Home and Garden
Office
Recycling
Restaurants
You will also find debates, downloads, fun stuff and plenty more to lure you back to the site on a regular basis.
We’d love you to get involved with some curious antics to keep important issues in the public eye – and provide us with much entertainment and amusement at the same time.
So - take a look. Explore… investigate… probe away.
We hope you like it; we hope you use it.
